Preps Daily: 12/10

Tuesday

Dec 10, 2013 at 12:01 AMDec 10, 2013 at 11:22 PM

10:

Years between Chatham Glenwood Titan Invitational titles for East Peoria’s wrestling team.

In Friday’s edition of the Journal Star, the “Remember When” section included the Raiders’ championship at Glenwood on Dec. 6, 2003. This past Saturday (Dec. 7), EP rode three champions and five wrestlers in the finals toward its second Titan Invite crown.

“It was a goal, we meet it, and that’s exactly what I wanted to do,” East Peoria coach Phil Johns said. “Everybody made contributions and functioned as a team. This is the best functioning team I’ve had since I’ve been at East Peoria.”

All three Raiders champions (Casey McWhirter at 132 pounds, ninth-ranked Tony Hall at 160 and Clarence Gomez at 170) won Titan tournament titles for the first time. The title was the first for Gomez as a varsity wrestler. McWhirter, ranked sixth by IllinoisMatmen, had an 8-0 decision against No. 10 Ricky Stringfellow of Central in the finals.

Central finished sixth in the tournament. Brandon Gregory won at 138, and Christian Gonzales-Miles gave the Lions a second runner-up finish at 195.

First for Chiefs

Deer Creek-Mackinaw senior Taylor Thomas became the first Chiefs grappler to win outstanding wrestler honors when he was selected for the upper weights Saturday at the Seneca Invitational after snagging the 152-pound crown.

Thomas won a technical fall decision, a 2-1 triple-overtime decision in the quarterfinals, 3-1 against Jason Bontz of Amboy in the semis and 5-1 against No. 12- ranked Omar Delgado of Kewanee in the finals.

“He wasn’t all-out dominant, but he beat really good kids,” said Dee-Mack coach Tim Thomas, Taylor’s father. “I think that’s why he was named the outstanding wrestler. The 152-pound bracket was loaded.”

The younger Thomas (ranked No. 11) did not give up an offensive point all day, only allowing nine escapes in four matches.

B/E hires Juerjens

Brimfield/Elmwood hired Kurt Juerjens as its new softball coach, according to Brimfield athletics director Jim Blane.

Juerjens replaces Scott Jones, who resigned in the spring to take an administrative position in the Dunlap school district. Jones coached the B/E softball team for 11 seasons, winning back-to-back Class 2A regional titles in 2009 and 2010.

Although having no high school coaching experience, Juerjens is a long-time National Softball Association coach for the East Peoria Express summer travel team. On Saturday, he was inducted as a coach into the Illinois NSA Hall of Fame.

The Indians, who in 2013 went 22-8 and reached a Class 2A regional title game, are projected to return seven starters, including first-team Journal Star All-Area shortstop Kerrigan Dura. The rest of Juerjens’ staff has yet to be hired, according to Blane.

Tuesday highlights

SWIMMING: Joe McGrew won the 200-yard freestyle, the 500 free and opened the winning 400 free relay to help the Metamora co-op to a 133-33 victory against visiting Central at Eureka College. ... Collin O’Brien took first in the 200 free and 500 free as Dunlap/Princevile/IVC won a triangular against Lincoln and Springfield.